Morning journal and courier., 1887-02-14
CHURCH NOTES.
Jottfnss From The City PuIpits Yes
 ferhSv.

l GerdaY.
 At Trinity church large congregation was present despite the cold weather. Rev. MT. Nichols preached an admirable sermon on the | duty of obedience.
 | AT ENGLISH HALL.
 Rev. Mir. Gilbert, of the Church of l the Messiah addressed the w. C.. ! T. U yesterday afternoon at English Hall on Christianity and temperance work. CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. The morning sermon of Rev. Phebe Hama ford, the pastor, was an exceedingly practl- cal one. The topic was "Blessed Influence" and the text, that fgurative expression in Revelations, ''The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations" She spoke of real religion as the tree and the personal ln- f1uence of Christians as the healing leaves. This personal religious influence she showed very clearly could be expected by the earnest soul in many ways, and then enlarged upon it as exerted through friendship, books, con versation and letter writing. The young were exhorted to be careful in the choice of friends and choice of books and papers for reading Great satisfaction was expressed over the fact that the press exerts such wide and benefcent influence. The cheap publications of the day carried knowledge and comfort into many homes where costly books could not be afforded. The tract was mentioned favorably means of dissemi- hating much blessed influence. It was urged that speech should be guarded and kind, and much stress was laid on the fact that in let ter writing high thoughts and helpful ideas may be conveyed, and thus through all these ways the world about the individual Chris tian be drawn toward righteousness.
 In the evening Rev. Mrs. Hanaford preach ed about Herod shutting up John in prison. She evidently thinks that the truth, like John, is too often imprisoned and desires for it the largest liberty. Righteous freedom l., II ,iJ Jo 1auv
 UNITED CHURCH.
 A correspondent says: Notwithstanding the cold, piercing air of yesterday and the prevalence of throat and lung complaints, this church was well filled.
 Dr. Mungers sermon was founded on Il Cor. xii, 7, where Paul speaks of ''a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of satan to punet me lest I should be exalted above measure" The following are a few of the leading thoughts; "A good life is the best expo nent of Christianity; the ecclesiasticism of the church fathers or the theology of the different schools, however valuable, form no essential part of Christian life. What, 1t IS often asked, was the thorn in sensual temptations some have supposed. It was not temptation to unbelief. There was no wavering ill the mind of Paul. Nelth- CT was it remorse for the part he took 1n put ting Stephen to death. The gospel frees us from the burden of union, 1t takes us out Of the natural order of penalty for sin. Neither was it the opposition of those who wished to retain the Jewish rites and ceremonies. Not so Opposition is confined to no age. There are still those who cling to what is old be cause it is old, and resist what isnew because it is new. The Greek and tue Roman could not accept the Jewish customs and traditions, but they can accept Christianity. It is now generally admitted that the thorn in the flesh was some nervous ailment affecting his personal appearance Too much scrutiny here is to be avoided: we have no right to penetrate the veil which delicacy prefers to be concealed, but we may say as a general truth physical evil is often condition of spiritual strength-give us of course sound mind in a sound body, but as matter of fact we derive good from evil. If this seems contradictory then it may be said no theory of life covers the whole ground Our chief sin is pride. Bodily infrmity undermines our pride. Pain is great leveller, teaching US humility. Hnman life is full of uncer- tainty, yet men live as if all was certain. We have no abiding city here, and it is mainly through the body are reminded of this. Man has power and is conscious of his pow CT. Mastery is the controlling motive, and success leads to independence and disdain of his fellow men. Bodily inirmity leads to dependence on God and man, which is the true condition.